Device for clearing gutters



Dec. 20, 1966 s..E. PERKEL 3,292,198

DEVICE FOR CLEARING GUTTERS Filed 001;. 13, 1965 v INVENTOR 5w 6 lam/1 United States Patent 3,292,198 DEVICE FOR CLEARING GUITERS Steven E. Perkel, 211 N. Lake Drive, Lakewood, NJ. 08701 Filed Oct. 13, 1965, Ser. No. 495,402 Claims. (Cl. --104.16)

precluded from carrying out their function by an accumulation of debris, rubbish, leaves, dirt and the like, which build up in the channel-like bed of the trough during certain seasons of the year.

Up to the present time, the most practical way to 3,292,198 Patented Dec. 20, 1966 "ice is truncated in a direction opposite to the other end and defines a sloped plow-like end surface. When the device is fitted into the bed 19 of the trough, the extremital ends of the truncated cylinder lie adjacent the top surface 21 of the bed and the angular inwardly extending sides 22 and 23 lie adjacent the sides of the trough more or less in the manner of a two directional plow. The cylinder may be solid or hollow depending on the type material utilized in its construction as long as it is of sufiicient weight to maintain it in the position described in the trough. If hollow, the cylinder may be provided with holes along the bottom surface thereof which will function as drains.

Each of the angularly disposed surfaces 22 and 23, on opposite ends of the cylinder, are provided with sling engaging means 25, which may be secured in any manner conveniently known in the art. As shown, the engaging properly clean such gutters, is to place a ladder in prox- I imity thereto, climb the same, and clear the area within the span of the arms. As is obvious, the ladder must be moved numerous times around the length and width of the house and it is necessary each time to ascend the ladder to the height of the gutter which may be a goodly distance, if the house is of the two story variety. The procedure is not only time consuming, and fatiguing but it is not altogether too safe to carry out.

It is an object of this invention to provide means which may be used to clear the bed of the channel-like gutter.

Another object is to provide a device by means of which a vertical force is translated into horizontal motion along the longitudinal length of a channel-like gutter in order to remove debris, leaves, dirt and the like from the same.

A further object is to provide a portable device of the type described having improved construction of low fabrication and maintenance costs, high durability and facile in use under a wide variety of service conditions.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered with the accompanying drawings wherein- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the device of this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view showing the device in position in the gutter of a house.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 4 is a view of a further embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 4.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to FIG. 2, a channel-like trough 11 is usually secured in a depending relationship to the lowest extremity of the roof 12 along the longitudinal length thereof. At each extremital end of the trough is provided a downward vertically extending hollow pipe 13 otherwise known as a drain. The bed of the channel-like trough or gutter 11 is fitted with a device 14 which travels fore and aft along the longitudinal length of the trough in response to a downward pressure of a sling engaging means 15 which is secured to either side of the device and which passes downwardly through each drain 13.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 14 utilized consists essentially of a cylinder of closed end construction, the ends 17 and 18 of which are truncated in opposed or opposite directions as shown. In other words, each end means may be a hook 25 which fits into a mating hole 26 provided in the angularly disposed surfaces 22 and 23 of the cylinder. A sling 15, which is secured on either side of the cylinder to the engaging means 25, extends along the longitudinal length of the bed 19 of the trough and passes downwardly through the vertical length of the drain 13. The sling should be of such length that an excess extends from the extremital opening 29 adjacent the ground level of the dwelling. The sling may be made simply of heavy cor-d, rope, chain and the like as long as the material is strong and flexible.

In operation, a force is exerted on that portion of the sling 15 which extends out through the extremital end 29 of either one of the drains adjacent the ground level. The force exerted on the sling is transmitted up the length of the sling to the cylindrical device at which point it is translated into motion. In response to the force, the cylindrical device 14 will move in a longitudinal direction, either fore or aft, along the length of the trough depending upon which one of the slings is being acted upon. In moving, the extremital end 22 and 23 of the truncated portion of the cylindrical device adjacent the bed of the trough will function to slide under the material in the trough. As the device is moved further in the same direction, the debris material will progress up the angularly disposed surface 22 and 23 of the truncated end portion of the cylinder until it reaches the top surface of the cyl-- inder at which point it will be forced over the side of the trough. To aid in giving direction to the debris, the top surface of the cylinder may be provided with a directional blade 31 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. When the device finally travels into abutment with the end of the trough, the material which has not been expended over the side of the trough may be easily recovered in a neat pile. To reset the device in position, or if the device is truncated on either end of the cylinder and it is desired to clear the trough in the opposite direction, one merely has to proceed to the opposite drain 29 and pull the sling means 15 and the operation described will be carried out in the opposed or opposite direction.

As an alternative, the scoop-like attitude of the device may be made uni-directional. As shown, in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5, one end of the cylinder 14 is truncated to define a sloped plow-like end surface while the other end extends into an ordinary closed end construction 32. However, in any case, either end of the cylinder is provided with the sling construction described secured by engaging means to the cylinder. As a further alternative, the cylindrical device may be provided with an angularly disposed directional blade 31 secured along the upper surface of the cylinder as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The function of the angular blade 31, which extends above the sides of the trough, is to provide direction and greater ease of removal of the debris as it progresses up the truncated surface of the cylinder. In this manner, the material in the bed of the trough is directed over the sides of trough and falls to the ground.

Obviously, many other modifications and variations of the present invention are possiblein the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

Iclaim: 1. A gutter clearing device comprising: a cylindrical body having truncated ends of closed construction,

each of said ends being truncated in a direction opposite to the other end, said truncated .ends each defining a sloped plow-like end surface, a sling means for attachment to said truncated ends of said cylinder, and engaging means for securing said sling means to said truncated ends of said cylinder.

2. The gutter clearing device of claim 1 whereini said cylindrical body is of hollow construction.

3. The gutter clearing device of claim 2 wherein said hollow body is provided with a plurality of drain holes.

4. The gutter clearing device of claim 1 wherein: said I 25 CHARLES A. WILLMUTH, Primary Examiner.

cylinder is of solid construction.

5. The gutter clearing device of claim 1 wherein: said cylindrical body is provided with at least one angular disposed directional blade on the top surface thereof.

a sling means for attachment to said ends of said cylinder, and

engaging means for securing said sling means to. said 3 ends of said cylinder.

7. The gutter clearing device of claim 6 wherein: said 1 1o cylindrical body is of hollow construction.

8. The gutter clearing device of claim 7 wherein said hollow body is provided with a plurality of drain holes.

9. The gutter clearing device of claim 6 wherein: said cylindrical is of solid construction.

10. The gutter clearing device of claim 1 wherein: said cylindrical body is provided with one angular disposed directional blade on the top surface thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,544,635 7/1925 De Graff 15l04.16 X

E. L. ROBERTS, Assistant Examiner.

3/1964 Mathews ,15104.16 

1. A GUTTER CLEARING DEVICE COMPRISING: A CYLINDRICAL BODY HAVING TRUNCATED ENDS OF CLOSED CONSTRUCTION, EACH OF SAID ENDS BEING TRUNCATED IN A DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE OTHER END, SAID TRUNCATED ENDS EACH DEFINING A SLOPED PLOW-LIKE END SURFACE, A SLING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO SAID TRUNCATED ENDS OF SAID CYLINDER, AND 